Flight of the Commanche Flight of the Bird of Paridise

My first trip on and airplane came at the age of 16, after driving across the US my adopted big brother, Ted Lyon, and I flew back from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles. I can remember listening to the stereo headphones playing the theme from the, Magnificent Seven,” as we landed for a short stop in Dallas and remembered the feeling for freedom and power to see so much in such a short time. Later that same year when my family flew north to San Jose to spend Thanksgiving with Aunt Anna I was already a seasoned flyer and always took the window seat to navigate the flight

When I was 18years old, while preparing for my mission, I flew a plane from Searchlight Nevada to Pine Mt. Utah. I worked for a construction company building The Lancaster II, III ward building and when the head electrician on the project (who lived in Salt Lake City, and commuted to and from Lancaster weekly) asked if we anyone would like to fly up with him for General Conference, I jumped at the opportunity. The next morning along with two other priests in my ward quorum (Arlo Blatter, Paul Cheney)we left in his Commanche Piper Cub four seater. An hour later we took a pit stop at Searchlight we continued north. Bro X (don’t remember his name) as the pilot, turned to me and told me he was tired and for me to fly the plane in the direction of the two mountain peaks in the distance while he caught a nap. Having never flown a plane before he gave me a few quick instructions told me it would be OK and nodded off. An hour later he awoke to find that we were directly between the two peaks and he re-established his control of the plane. Simple directions, and I few for over an hour in the small plane. We continued unscathed and enjoyed Conference that weekend. I would have the opportunity many more times that fall to fly with Bro. X and experience flying. I have since taken many an opportunity to find freedom in flying above the world and observing much the normal person can never imagine.

Recently Mom and I along with Jesse and Cammie had the opportunity to travel to Kauai and while there we visited the Kiliuea light house. A small historic facility only 80 foot tall and 31 ½ feet around with a kerosene light refractor on top that could be seen 100 miles out to sea. Historic with re: the Flight of the Bird of paradise which took off from Oakland California 6-28-1927. Charles Lindberg stated this more so that his own historic flight would be the greatest feat for aeronautics flying of the time, further than anyone, including himself, over open water to a select destination. Flying at a correct heading towards Honolulu they managed to miss Honolulu and the Hawaiian Islands by over 90 miles. Running short of fuel the co-pilot noted a flash of light to the south repeating at a regular interval. Turning south and flying 90 miles they discovered the lighthouse at Kiliuea, Kauai, and then turned east across a distance to land back at Honolulu.